Catalonia, region or country?

Since the end of the General Franco, the Spanish regions, the Catalonia, the Pays Basque, claim a greater degree of autonomy vis-à-vis the central government of Madrid. The Catalan government has even announced its intention to hold a consultation on the future of Catalonia in the coming months.
"The Spanish deputies overwhelmingly rejected, on Tuesday, the proposed referendum on the independence of Catalonia, which the nationalists in power in this region want to organize on November 9, encouraged by a tidal wave in public opinion."
Source: La Presse
The following activities are a collection of varied ideas with Catalan autonomy.
 

Goals

At the end of the activities, the student will be able to:
- Know the geographical and human characteristics of Catalonia;
- Know and locate in time political figures linked to Catalan autonomy;
- Locate Catalonia in relation to Spain;
- Understand the autonomist demands of Catalonia;
- Make links with the situation of Quebec within Canada.
 

Suggested Activities

ACTIVITY 1: The history of Catalan autonomy

1. As a team, ask the students to find information about some of the characters who played a role in the quest for Catalan autonomy.

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2. Using the learning app, ask the students to locate the different characters on the timeline, which will allow them to validate the information obtained previously. (Tip: by clicking on the photo, it enlarges and we see the name of the person appearing.)
NB You can use the correction key to validate the students' answers.
 

ACTIVITY 2: España, Espanya, Espainia: a country, really?

Spain is a grouping of ancient kingdoms that have been unified in the last millennium.
1. As a team, ask the pupils to locate the different Spanish Autonomous Communities on the map.
2. On the same card, ask students to indicate the languages spoken in these areas.

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Correction :
Communities
Languages - In Word format (.doc)
 

ACTIVITY 3: Catalonia, Basque Country, same conflict?

Catalonia and the Basque Country are two regions of Spain which claim their autonomy.
As a team, ask the students to compare the situation of the two regions with regard to the origin of their demands.

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Corrected - In Word format (.doc)
Then ask students to share their perspective on the quest for its 2 regions.
• Are the secessionist demands legitimate?
• Would one of the two regions have a better chance of being autonomous than the other?
• Does Spain have the right to prevent these regions from seceding?
 

For further

Ask the students about the situation of Quebec in Canada. Can they make connections with the regions of Catalonia and the Basque Country in Spain?
As a whole class, look for the meanings of the following terms:
- Quebec nationalism
- Sovereignist ideology
- Quebec autonomy
 

More about the magazine

Spain, this great power
"Catalonia is not Crimea"
Interview with Artur Mas
Sovereignty in Quebec
Wikipedia article